Community Right to Build

The Community Right to Build is a way for communities to choose for themselves where and when to build homes, shops, facilities and businesses.

he Community Right to Build is a way for communities to choose for themselves where and when to build homes, shops, facilities and businesses - putting power back into the hands of local people where it belongs.

As an alternative to the traditional application for planning permission, it gives communities the power to decide for themselves what happens in their neighbourhood.

The Community Right to Build came into force on 6thApril 2012 and forms part of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations made following the Localism Act 2011.

Communities will be able to build:

family homes to sell on the open market

affordable housing for rent or to convert disused farm buildings into affordable homes

sheltered housing for elderly local residents

low cost starter homes for young local families struggling to get on the housing ladder

facilities such as a new community centre or a children's playground

It depends entirely what local people decide their community needs. The benefits of these developments, such as any profits generated, will be managed by a community organisation on behalf of the whole community.